Fischer was an oboist, colleague of J.C.Bach in England, and son in law (and portrait subject) to Thomas Gainsborough. Fischer achieved popularity with this, the third movement, "Rondeaux" (sic), of his Oboe Concerto no. 1 in C.

Dale published these variations for the domestic musician; a perhaps more well-known set of twelve variations for keyboard was written by W. A. Mozart (K179).